The two girls kept chatting away when a started to walk past. He had a red baseball cap on, denim shorts that went past his knees, a long blue shirt, and earrings in his ears. He was tall. Instantly Demi felt as if she was struck by lightning. Her heart started to beat faster. Victoria saw the way Demi looked at him. Her mouth was slightly ajar. Demi slowly licked her lips. The guy seen from his peripheral how she reacted to him. He wanted to say something to her but just raised his hand in a small wave.
Demi’s brain started running with thoughts. She knew him, knew his name. He was just outside the edge of her fence when his name came to her, she called out to him. “Zaine?”
He stopped right there, taking off his hat to reveal his dark brown eyes, thick hair, and a smile that went on for days. “Hey, Demi. You’re up early.”
“I’m an early bird what can I say. You look um really cute today.”
“Thank you. Thank you. You look beautiful too.”
She quickly took her hands, skimming the top of her curls to make them stay down. Her smile after his compliment could rival the sun. Victoria put her hand on her hip and spoke up for her own defense. “She’s not the only one standing here you know.”
He shook his head and started to laugh. “You’re right. Sorry about that. You look beautiful this morning too.”
“You damn right I am. If you want to get with her, you better be nice to me.”
Demi’s eyes widen at what her friend was saying. She punched her in the leg to get her to shut up. “Ignore her, she’s dumb in the morning.”
“No, I’m not. He likes you. I can tell. He didn’t have to stop and compliment you but he did. So just admit it Zaine you like Demi just don’t ask her out in front of me.”
He laughed at the two girls. Her friend was right he did like her. When he looked at her he seen how his future could be with her by his side but he was shy. He could talk to girls, talk to her, but expressing his feelings would be something hard he would have a problem doing. Instead of answering her he turned his back to the two of them. “Bye, have a nice day.” He put his hat back on and walked away.
Demi watched him leave. Her heart still pounding in her chest. She was smitten with him and wanted to get to know him more. Victoria could see that things would become complicated for her friend. At that moment, a groggy Michelle came to the door. Her hand in her hair, scratching her scalp, and her mouth open due to a yawn. “Did I hear you call Zaine name?”
Demi immediately knew that nothing would come of the two of them if Michelle had her way. She wanted to hide the fact that she had seen him but knew it wouldn’t be hard if he was just going to the store up the street from her house. “Ah, yeah. I thought I recognized him so I called out his name.”
Michelle perked up after being told that. She rushed back inside to get herself cleaned and dressed up. Victoria scowled in her direction. “Good morning to you too.” She uttered under her breath. “Bitch.”
Demi sighed at her friend. “Vic. You really shouldn’t.”
Victoria mirrored her friend. “Dem, you really shouldn’t either.”
“What?”
“You shouldn’t have told her or take their abuse.”
“It’s just another five years. I can last that long.”
“Not if you’re dead. I hate her. And your parents. And the twins if they start to treat you disrespectfully too.”
Tears threaten to sting her eyes. Victoria knew as soon as Demi went quiet, she was lost in a sea of sadness. She nudged her friends shoulder. “Let’s go over to the school? We’ll be there for another two years.”
“Yeah, that be fine with me. I should get dressed.”
Victoria stepped back to let her get up. “Yeah and brush your teeth. Your breath is rank.”
“Again, it wouldn’t be rank if you hadn’t dragged me out of my warm bed first thing in the morning.”
“And Again, if I hadn’t you wouldn’t have eaten. Must we have this argument again?”
“Ugh, no. Did you at least watch the news with your parents for the weather report?”
“Sure did, gonna be high nineties. So wear something short and cute.”
Demi shook her head and rolled her eyes. “You’re boy crazy my friend.”
“Indeed, what else could I possibly be.”
“Girl crazy.”
“Hmm, true but for now I like boys.” Victoria shooed her in the house to get ready.
It was just after ten in the morning when they both emerged looking their best. The best friends walked the thirty minutes over to their middle school, laughing and horsing around. The walk over was filled with older guys cat calling. Victoria would occasionally yell out, “Jailbait.” Demi liked the attention. It made her feel better about herself. Today seemed to be a good day for her. Being told she was beautiful even when she knew she looked a mess and now all these paying her attention. It instilled in her a false confidence but a confidence, nonetheless. If her parents weren’t going to give her the love, she rightly deserved she would get it herself by any means necessary.
They reached their school, finally. It seemed eerie to be there when no cars were there. It was empty save for the boys playing baseball in the field. Demi thought she caught sight of a familiar red hat in the field. “Hey Vic, let’s go watch them play?”
“Yeah, it could be fun. Too bad we can’t join in. we look too cute to get dirty.”
“Speak for yourself. I don’t mind getting dirty.”
Victoria laughed at her friend because it was true. No matter how she dressed, or was forced to dress, she would get down and dirty with not a care in the world.
The two girls walked over to the field as they got closer, they could see it was the same group of guys that passed by her house the day before. They looked at each other and wanted to turn around until Demi looked and noticed Zaine was up to bat next. Victoria noticed the longing look in her eyes. She sighed. Her voice was low when spoke. “Just five minutes alright?”Demi tried to play off as if she didn’t know what Victoria was talking about. “What?”“You know what I mean. Just a few minutes.”“Well, if you insist.”“I don’t we can leave. It’s too hot to be outside like this. I would much rather be sitting somewhere eating ice cream.”“Oh.” She looked back at the field waiting for Zaine to go up to the plate.“We can stay.”“Mmm.”Victoria shook her head while rolling her eyes. She watched the guys play baseball a
The twins sat there in shock. Demi waited, maybe it wasn’t as bad as she was letting her mind think. Michelle she was the first one to explode. She stood up irate. Yelling at her parents. “What do you mean we’re moving? Moving where?”Their mother refused to answer the questions, leaving it for their dad to explain. “We’re still going to be staying in the same city. We just need to downsize. That’s all.”“OK, so I don’t lose my friends but what about school? Do we have to transfer?”He reached out placing a hand on the top of her head and shoulder. “No, we’ll still be in the district.”That calmed Michelle down long enough to agree to it. Demi had questions but wasn’t sure if they would listen to her. “Dad? When do we move?”“We need you to pack everything up that you can. We’re moving soon.”She was afraid he would say that. He was always hardest on her. She made it a point to tell Victoria when she has the chance. “OK then.”Her parents left the living room to
With Victoria helping her out with the packing she managed to get not only the twins room packed up but hers and their parents. There were things in her parents room she never ever wanted to see again. She naturally assumed adults were weird. The only rooms left to take care of were the living room and kitchen. The sun was still out, it was only about five when they took to the streets.Demi couldn’t help but hug her best friend as they walked over to her house. “Vic I don’t know what I would do without you.”“Luckily, you will never have to find out. Stay the night at my house tonight.”“Are you saying what I think you mean?”“You goddamn right I am. Sleepover.”“Home cooked meal or junk on top of junk?”“Let’s ask mom first. You should call your parents and ask them too. OK?”“You know they may say no but I’ll try.”It
Demi followed Victoria out of her bedroom. The girls walked in on her mom while on a phone call. Demi could tell just by the way she looked, who she was talking to. The shrill sound of her mother’s voice came through the speaker. She just knew that they would tell her to come back home. Victoria could see the worry forming on her brow. She hugged her close.Maxine hated talking to this woman, she knew they treated Demi as if she was the unwanted stepchild but couldn’t prove anything. “Mrs. Lockhart, Demi explained to me that you will be moving soon. I figured it would be best for them if they had a sleepover this weekend. Victoria and I will truly miss having her around.”“Whatever. I’ll be glad when we don’t have to live so close to you anymore.” She ended the call.Maxine rolled her eyes while she placed her phone face down on the counter. She seen the girls standing there with hopeful gazes. She clapped her hand
Just as she was about to make breakfast her parents came out of their room. She knew it wasn’t going to be good. Her father clapped his hand to get all of his girls attention. “Listen up, no making food for a bit. We’re going to get takeout. Less mess.”Demi sighed in relieve, she wouldn’t have to cook but there was another problem that came to mind. She may not get fed either. She wanted to slump down against the wall but thought better of it. Her father jingled his keys to get them all in the car. Reluctantly, she followed suit.Stuffed inside the trunk yet again She looked out the rear window. Demi tried to keep herself from feeling down but the more she thought about this new move the more she realized her life was only going to get worse.Instead of going to a drive thru restaurant, they pulled into IHOP. Demi's eyes light up. There was no way they wouldn’t allow her to eat especially with so many people around. Eve
“Says the hopeless romantic. Men aren’t good. Look at that man that sired me. He’s scum.” Demi wanted to bring up what she thought her father was doing but decided against it. Victoria pulled her into a hug, not knowing the real reason for her friends scowl. “Not all men are like him. I mean you’ve met my dad. He was the best.” “True. Sorry. I just wished he had stayed around longer. It would’ve given me a better example of good men.” “Wll, when it’s your time to go you can’t bargain for more time. I know he’s at peace. Instead of suffering.” “That’s true. He was in so much pain before. That’s why you’re the hopeless romantic.” “I bet you Zaine will change your mind. You’ll be a romantic too. I feel it in my soul.” Demi knew Victoria was right about seventy percent of the time but she refused to think that there was at least one great guy out there for her. It couldn’t have been him. Lightening would have to strike for her to believe h
The last weekend of summer break came. Demi spent her time in her room. A pounding sound resounded on the floor. She knew what that sound was. They had taken to using the ceiling as a means to call her down from her room. She chewed on the inside of her cheek before heading down to the main area of the house. When she got to the living room it looked as if her parents had been arguing once again. The twins were hugging each other in a corner. Michelle was nowhere to be found. With slumped shoulders she went to console the twins. Madison was the older of the twins she clung to Melanie. Demi stooped down in front of them. “Wanna go for a walk? It’s time we got familiar with the neighborhood.” The girls didn’t say anything but nodded their heads. Demi breathed out while wiping their tears from their faces. “Go put on your shoes and wait for me. I’ll let mom know where we’re going.” Melanie and Madison ran to grab their shoes. Demi went to her parents room. Her mom was s
The older kids watched as Melanie and Madison made a beeline for the slides. There were two different kinds a couple of feet apart. Victoria and her boyfriend leaned against the fence. He was holding her hand, Demi on the other hand looked at the two of the envious for a little while but remembered that it was better for her to not wish for things that wasn’t going to happen. Zaine was heading towards the store not far from the park. He noticed a familiar back leaning against the fence. He for sure thought it was Demi. Instead of going to the store, he headed towards the park. He was at the fence when he attempted to startle her. “Boo!” Demi jumped away from the fence. She had her hand up to her chest hoping to calm her racing heart. She was angry someone would scare her. Just as she was about to turn around and curse them, she seen it was Zaine. She tilted her head down to try and hide the smile forming on her lips. “You know I could’ve punched you.” “Yeah,